In South Korea, the Labor Standards Act governs the rules and regulations regarding vacation leave entitlements.

Entitlement

For employees who have not yet completed a full year of service or have had less than 80% attendance during the year, they are entitled to 1 day of vacation for each month of work. This is only applicable for months where their attendance exceeded 80%.

Upon completion of a full year of employment with at least 80% attendance, employees are granted a minimum of 15 days of vacation.

For employees who have more than one year of service and have maintained 80% attendance, an additional vacation day is awarded at two-year intervals starting from the third year of employment. This increment continues until the maximum limit of 25 days is reached. For instance, in the third year of employment, 16 days are granted, in the fifth year, 17 days, and so on, until it caps at 25 days.

Important Considerations

There are no specific regulations in South Korea regarding the carryover of annual leave into the subsequent year. Unless it is explicitly stated in the employment contract, employees are generally expected to utilize their vacation within the year or they may risk losing it.

In the event of an employee leaving a company, either through voluntary resignation or termination, the employer is obligated to compensate them for any unused vacation days from their current year of employment.

South Korea celebrates a mix of traditional holidays, often based on the lunar calendar, and modern national celebrations.

Major Traditional Holidays

• Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day)

  • Seollal is one of the most important holidays in Korea. It is celebrated for 3 days, starting on the first day of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in late January or early February. During this time, families gather, pay respects to ancestors, and enjoy traditional foods like tteokguk (rice cake soup).

• Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)

  • Chuseok is another significant celebration, similar in scale to Seollal. It occurs on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, typically in September or October. Families also gather, pay homage to ancestors, and share a harvest feast that often includes songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes).

National Celebration Days

• Independence Movement Day - March 1st

  • This day commemorates the March 1st Movement of 1919, a pivotal event in Korea's fight for independence from Japanese rule.

• Children's Day - May 5th

  • Children's Day is a day to celebrate children, with families often enjoying outings and activities together.

• Buddha's Birthday - Variable (Lunar Calendar)

  • Buddha's Birthday is a significant Buddhist celebration based on the lunar calendar, usually in April or May. It is marked by temple visits and lantern festivals.

• Memorial Day - June 6th

  • Memorial Day honors those who have sacrificed their lives in service to South Korea.

• Liberation Day - August 15th

  • Liberation Day marks Korea's liberation from Japanese rule in 1945.

• National Foundation Day - October 3rd

  • National Foundation Day celebrates the legendary founding of the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon, in 2333 BC.

• Hangeul Day - October 9th

  • Hangeul Day commemorates the invention and proclamation of the Korean alphabet (Hangeul).

• Christmas Day- December 25th

  • Christmas Day is a widely celebrated holiday even though South Korea has a significant Buddhist population.

In South Korea, labor laws provide for various types of leave, ensuring employees have opportunities for rest, recuperation, and attending to personal and family matters. These are governed primarily by the Labor Standards Act.

Annual Paid Leave

Employees with over one year of continuous service are entitled to a minimum of 15 days of paid annual leave. The number of days increases with length of service. One additional day of leave is added for each additional two years of service. Employees can use leave in portions and must be allowed to use at least 25% of their leave consecutively upon request.

Menstrual Leave

Female employees are entitled to one day of unpaid menstrual leave per month. This leave may be used at the employee's discretion.

Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is provided for a period of 90 days, often partially paid by the government and/or the employer depending on the circumstances.

Childcare Leave

Both parents are eligible to take childcare leave until the child reaches the age of one. Leave may be partially paid depending on company policies.

Marriage Leave

Employees are entitled to 3 days of paid marriage leave.

Bereavement Leave

Employees receive three days of paid bereavement leave for the death of a spouse, parent, or child.

Other Notable Leave Types

Sick Leave: Employees may take unpaid sick leave upon providing justification. Extended periods of sick leave may be paid depending on company policies.

Family Care Leave: This leave is available for caring for seriously ill family members.

Public Service Leave: This leave is available for performing civic duties such as voting or jury duty.